Saturday, March 16, 2013

At Entreprenuclear, a highly-popular humorous
music video is utilized to put the fear of the risks of Nuclear Power
into their proper context of being absurd. Nothing in life is 100% safe.
The risks of Energy Poverty are much more worthy of fear or concern
than are the risks from Nuclear Power. Taking on some degree of risk is a
necessity to live a life worth living. Please share this posting with
some people beyond the existing Pro-Nuclear Community.

Port Hope uranium workers had lower mortality and cancer
than rest of Canadian population, says British Medical Journal study

Post blurb: Numerous studies over the years have proved that uranium
processing operations in Port Hope, Ontario had little if any
environmental and health impacts on the area and its inhabitants. A
new study published in the BMJ Open examined specifically the workers
who were directly involved in uranium processing. It found levels of
mortality and cancer that were lower than those in the general
Canadian population. Though the study corroborates all the credible
scientific assessments so far, Steve Aplin doubts it will have much
effect on the activities of professional anti-nuclear fearmongers like
Helen Caldicott. That is because Dr. Caldicott is more interested in
making money from book sales than in providing credible scientific
information.

Washington – Business Roundtable (BRT), an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, today released Taking Action on Energy: A CEO Vision for America’s Energy Future,
a detailed, comprehensive national energy strategy to capitalize on
U.S. strengths and accelerate economic growth and job creation.
“America’s energy economy is firing on all cylinders – efficiency,
renewable power, oil and gas production, and advanced coal and nuclear
power technology,” said David M. Cote, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell
International, Inc., and Chair of BRT’s Energy and Environment
Committee. “North American energy self-sufficiency is within reach, but
the missing piece is an effective strategy to capitalize on U.S.
advantages. Taking Action on Energy is that strategy.”
In Taking Action on Energy, CEOs, who lead major U.S.
companies that operate in every sector of the economy – and represent
energy producers, consumers and technology suppliers – offer a vision
for America’s energy future that is more affordable, more secure and
more sustainable.
“Driven by private sector innovation and investment, the United States
is poised to regain its status as an energy superpower,” said John S.
Watson, Chairman and CEO of Chevron Corporation. “The dramatic rise in
U.S. oil and natural gas production is creating jobs and economic growth
across America, but our ability to take full advantage of the historic
opportunity in front of us depends upon the right policy framework.”
“Reliable, affordable energy makes the United States the location of
choice for manufacturing,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and CEO of
The Dow Chemical Company. “We have outlined a strategy to ensure America
stays on top.”
“America’s electric power infrastructure has long delivered value to
consumers and enhanced industrial competitiveness,” said Nicholas K.
Akins, President and CEO of American Electric Power. “To preserve that
value, sound energy strategy must maintain fuel diversity for power
generation, support investment in our nation’s transmission system,
provide a long-term solution for storing spent nuclear fuel and consider
the economic consequences of energy and environmental regulation.”
In Taking Action on Energy, BRT CEOs call on Congress and the
Administration to adopt policies that will enhance U.S.
self-sufficiency, boost economic growth and promote environmental
stewardship. The plan includes detailed and specific recommendations in
each of four areas – energy efficiency; traditional energy production;
renewable energy production; and electric power generation, transmission
and distribution – including measures to:

Foster innovation by sustaining public investments in
a diverse portfolio of pre-commercial research and development
(R&D) activities, including:

R&D on cost-effective technologies that have the potential to
improve energy efficiency while diversifying energy sources;

Projects to demonstrate the commercial viability of carbon capture,
utilization and storage, provided that such funding is offered for a
finite timeframe and limited in scope; and

R&D and demonstration projects for pre-commercial renewable
electricity generation and transportation fuels, with an emphasis on
performance, emissions reductions and technology neutrality.

Drive increased energy efficiency by:

Ensuring that state legislatures and public utility commissions
consider policies that promote investment in cost-effective energy
efficiency measures, and ensure that such investments are as profitable
for utilities as generation and distribution assets;

Expanding the use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs)
and Utility Energy Services Contracts (UESCs) in the federal government,
as well as training and education for federal energy managers,
policymakers and procurement/legal staff regarding the use and benefits
of these contracts; and

Encouraging energy efficiency measures at the state level based on
effective federal policy guidelines that can be cost-effectively
implemented; and giving states the flexibility to account for local
differences in regulatory approaches.

Respecting the role that states have traditionally played in
regulating oil and natural gas activity on non-federal lands, and
ensuring that new regulations for federal lands are developed in
consultation with states and are consistent with state regulations; and

Ensuring that EPA regulations are based on sound science, undergo
thorough net cost-benefit analysis, and take into consideration the net
cumulative impact these regulations have on energy costs, economic
growth and job creation, while being protective of human health and the
environment.

Reform incentives for renewable power technology deployment by:

Providing wind-powered electricity generation with a smooth
transition to an era of unsubsidized competitiveness by extending the
wind production tax credit so that the benefit is gradually reduced and
ultimately eliminated;

Ensuring that decisions regarding tax incentives for renewable
resources are designed to address well-documented market inefficiencies,
applied only to those fuels and technologies with a credible path to
unsubsidized competitiveness and finite in duration and eventually
phased out in a predictable fashion;

Accounting for regional variations in renewable energy resource availability when developing legislation and regulation; and

With respect to the renewable fuel standard, policymakers should
consider the limitations of the current vehicle fleet, fuel distribution
infrastructure and actual production capacity, and adopt targeted
modifications as needed.

Providing transparent rate incentives for cost-effective upgrades to
the nation’s transmission infrastructure in order to facilitate grid
modernization and support competitive wholesale electricity markets;

Improving coordination among federal agencies, such as the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), state
commissions and other stakeholders, to address the complexity,
unpredictability and inefficiency of transmission planning, siting and
cost allocation decisions for interstate projects;

Supporting DOE and National Institute of Standards and Technology
efforts to accelerate and coordinate the development of “smart grid”
standards; and

Requiring actionable and timely cybersecurity threat intelligence
sharing from government to critical infrastructure owners and operators.

“America’s energy future is bright, but it is not certain,” concluded
Cote. “A diverse portfolio of energy efficiency and supply options is
the best way to preserve and extend America’s significant energy
advantages.”
Click here to view the full report.
Click here to view a one-page overview of the full report.
Click here to view a one-page overview of the CEO recommendations on energy efficiency.
Click here to view a one-page overview of the CEO recommendations on traditional energy production.
Click here to view a one-page overview of the CEO recommendations on renewable energy production.
Click here to view a one-page overview of the CEO recommendations on electric power generation, transmission and distribution.

Business Roundtable (BRT) is an association of chief executive officers
of leading U.S. companies with more than $7.3 trillion in annual
revenues and nearly 16 million employees. BRT member companies comprise
nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock market and invest
more than $150 billion annually in research and development – equal to
61 percent of U.S. private R&D spending. Our companies pay $182
billion in dividends to shareholders and generate nearly $500 billion in
sales for small and medium-sized businesses annually.
BRT companies give more than $9 billion a year in combined charitable contributions.
Please visit us at www.brt.org, check us out on Facebook and LinkedIn, and follow us on Twitter.

Tokyo,
is suing antinuclear protesters... There might still be radioactive
leaks from Fukushima Daiichi to the sea... Nuclear critics continue to
foment distrust of the Japanese government... Blogging colleague Rod
Adams has posted a summary of a British study on uranium mining worker
health.

San Onofre debate now more public – and more technical

By Will Davis on Mar 15, 2013 12:00 am

By Will Davis The debate over the continuing investigations into steam
generator U-tube problems at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
(SONGS) last week entered a phase of previously unseen publicity and
public scrutiny, as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released
Mitsubishi … Continue reading →Read in browser »

Gas pipeline erupts in flame after barge
strikeA
tugboat pushing an oil barge crashed into a gas pipeline in a Louisiana
bayou located about 30 miles south of New Orleans on March 12.
Precautionary measures such as a protective boom and oil skimmers were
placed
in the water, although no oil leak was expected. Full ArticleShare:

Obama unveils US energy policy blueprint
President Barack Obama on Friday unveiled a “blueprint for a clean and
secure energy future” for the US that stresses alternative energies and
the relatively clean fossil fuel of natural gas, and encourages greater
energy efficiency.
However, the plan makes no mention of the controversial Keystone XL
pipeline, designed to carry oil from Canada’s tar sands to the Gulf of
Mexico. The Obama administration is expected to approve it but has not
done so yet, despite no impediments to construction remaining.
Republicans and the energy industry are eagerly awaiting signs of a decision on the pipeline,
viewing it as a litmus test of the president’s willingness to be more supportive of traditional energy sources.
The White House said that in his blueprint the president had put the US on a path to a cleaner and more secure energy future.

Superstorm Sandy Emergency Power Case Studies And Government's Role in Disaster Readiness to Be Examined in Webinar

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Army Corps of Engineers and Industry Experts To Outline Importance of Emergency Generators to Public Safety at March 18th WebinarWASHINGTON, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Case studies of emergency power issues in New York, New Jersey
and the Northeast related to Superstorm Sandy and the role of emergency
power systems to public health and safety will be the focus of free
webinar on March 18th sponsored by the Diesel Technology Forum.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120201/MM46474LOGO)
There is no registration fee but space is limited so early registration is recommended.

Emergency Power Background InformationDiesel-powered generators
can save lives during a power crisis. Interruptions of electrical
power, even of short duration, create situations that could imperil
public health and safety. Emergency generators must be able to provide
reliable, immediate and full strength electric power when there is a
failure of the primary power supply system.
This webinar is designed to provide an understanding of the basic
issues surrounding the use of emergency backup power systems, technology
and fuel choices, operating conditions, and case studiesHospitals, Data Centers and Emergency Communications Require 24/7 Power
The loss of electrical grid power due to storms, natural disasters or
high power demands are increasingly common. With a growing dependence
on technology and interconnected systems that rely on electricity, power
reliability becomes increasingly critical. Hospitals, data centers,
water and sewage facilities, fueling stations, and communication and
transportation systems require continuous power to protect public health
and safety.
As opposed to some other fuels and technologies, diesel-powered
generators provide a steady supply of high-quality power and superior
performance for transient or fluctuating power demands due to the
high-torque characteristics of diesel engines. Beyond these most
critical applications, the power needs for food and medical
refrigeration, building operations such as elevators and sprinklers as
well as banking and business networks further highlight the significant
economic and other losses from power outages.Connect with DTF
How do you keep up with the news on clean diesel? You can be a fan of DTF's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter @DieselTechForum, or subscribe to our YouTube channel @DieselTechForum. You can also subscribe to Diesel Direct, a monthly publication featuring the latest clean diesel news and activities of the Diesel Technology Forum by emailing dtf@dieselforum.org. ABOUT THE DIESEL TECHNOLOGY FORUMThe Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization
dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines,
fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel
technology and represent the three key elements of the modern
clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner
diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org.(View this press release online here.)
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Allen SchaefferProfNet - http://www.profnetconnect.com/SchaefferContact: Steve Hansenshansen@dieselforum.org301-668-7230 (o) 202-355-3664 (c)
SOURCE Diesel Technology Forum

Tokyo (UPI) Mar 12, 2013
Radiation is still at dangerous levels in the contamination zone of
Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, says a witness report.
The BBC report on Monday recounts a tour of the Fukushima site taken
last week, the second such tour granted foreign TV journalists since an
earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, crippled the nuclear facility,
operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Fukushima_status_little_improved_999.html